Holy See hopeful 2008 Olympics will promote unity among countries

The Holy See’s Permanent Observer at the UN, Archbishop Celestino Migliore, said this week the upcoming Olympic games in Beijing are an important opportunity to promote dialogue and diplomacy to help overcome difficulties between countries.

During a speech at the UN General Assembly, the archbishop said the dialogue and encounter that come from sports are “instruments bringing people together for a common objective” and “represent great opportunities in the building of peace and the prevention of conflicts.”

“Rules and fairness (which are proper to sports) remain the basis of peace processes,” Archbishop Migliore said, adding that for this reason the Holy See hopes the 2008 Olympic Games will be an opportunity to promote respect for human rights and peace.

He said they would be a chance to show that “what is most important in life is not winning, but striving.” In recent days Olympic organizers in China published a list of objects banned from Olympic village, including the Bible.